DeltaMike

Is there a shortcut to get there, or do you have to go to the MFD?

That's not a high turn rate Disclaimer, I have the F14 but don't claim to be able to fly the thing, I primarily fly F15 but prefer the F18 in BFM, just getting into the F16. Radius is seldom the issue. I will say I'm not eager to get into a flat scissors with anybody in an F15, for the reasons you mention; but not sure I'd be eager to do that in an F14 either. I think it's a little more interesting to look at high performance turns, say a slice at a given perfect speed. F16 is pretty impressive, right on the edge of the envelope at Mach 0.8 it can turn 19-20 degrees per sec (with a radius of 0.3nm fwiw). Tomcat can exceed that -- not difficult to hit up to 23 degrees per sec with a similar radius. Key is to keep the thing in the air, which is a challenge. I had some success just babying it through the turns, not going that fast (entering at 400 kias, kept it out of gate), easing it just to the shake. Didn't feel that fast but lo and behold, when I looked at the tacviews it was darn impressive. To be clear, you gotta keep it flying, an issue that doesn't come up with the F16. But, my feeling is, Tomcat is a pretty amazing jet, if you can fly the durn thing.

Doesn't look like you're in quite yet, we've been closed last few days, we are opening up some slots tonight. If you can read and post in the discord subforums, you're in :) It's not like there's a selection process or anything, more like a deselection process. So if people sign up and then don't do anything, we un-enroll them to make room for new cadets. But you don't have to know anything to get in. To be clear, you hit the ground running :)

Check out DCS Academy https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=255633 It's not for everybody; depends on what you are looking for. Most of our top level instructors fly the F18 primarily. But we don't start there; we use the C-101 as a trainer, and sometimes depending on circumstances the MB-339 and the A-4E.

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=255633 The cadets get to know each other really well. Good way to make friends and get extremely good at what you do

Upgrade your GPU first, don't get too stuck on team red, right now the 2070 super looks like a fine card for VR. That'll get you started. Eventually you'll want a 3 series Ryzen, faster and more RAM. But, beauty of the AMD platform is you can take it one painful bite at a time :)

Yeah once you get to the point of BFM you can use the F5 if you want. Not actually the best choice for initial flight training, C-101 excels there due to - Easier to fly stabilized approach (helpful skill to have, critical for those on Navy track) - Better radios (gotta learn that stuff some time) - Much better platform for IFR training, in terms of instrumentation, stability, and low-speed capabilities - Less tendency for the jet to run away with you during formation flying - Has a back seat That said, an actual T-38 module with ILS and two radios would be pretty darn cool We left the MB-339 in for level 0 training so people can see what the Academy is like without buying anything. After that? Well, one reality of DCS in general is, it'll cost ya. Here, you'll need C-101, your career bird NTTR map, eventually you'll need Tacview Advanced and (if Navy track) the carrier. Some kind of head tracking solution; at this level, I don't see how you can function without it. Is what it is. Easier to see why once you give it a try. Very few of our cadets are pure newbs, most have been in DCS for a while, many are really into DCS. Here basically to go back and cover the basics, without which there's only so far you can go. Like, how are you really supposed to fly the pattern? What is "the envelope" really? How exactly am I supposed to fly a DME arc? How exactly am I supposed to get a strike package on target, on time? It's a deep dive. The end goal is to be able to manage yourself and your flight in a complex, realistic multiplayer environment with live ATC, live AIC, live opfor. There's a lot that goes in to that, and the sequence, is, crawl -> walk -> run.

CPU utilization% is meaningless, for the most part it only runs on one core. You get better info using Oculus tray tool and using the HUD to look at render times. Anti aliasing is almost all GPU. You don't need as much of that with rift s but still your GPU is marginal. Other setting like shadows stress the CPU as well as the GPU. Most likely to cause problems in mp. It doesn't take much to drive rift s, my vega56 does the trick but I agree the 2070s sure looks like the sweet spot. For single player that's where I would go

^awesome. Drop by the discord. Once you're done with phase 1 you can fly a high fidelity clickable module. For air Force, most seem to favor f16 or a10, F5 is also an option. M2k. Viggen. I imagine most of the instructors will be flying f16.

We are taking new cadets but we won't have full instructor availability over the holidays. Currently C-101, MB-339 and Yak-52 available for Level 0, which is straight-and-level, turns, pattern work, and stall training, all done on the Caucasus map. The MB-339 is a lot of fun and a good way to dip your toe in the water without spending any $. For Level 1, 2 and 3 -- visual navigation, VFR, formation flying, and aerobatic maneuvers -- you pretty much need the C-101 (and the NTTR map). Hard to make IFR training work otherwise. It's a good experience. Phase 2 is where you get into combat training, we have an A/A pathway and we are working on an A/G pathway. Here, you'll fly your "career bird." F-18, F-16. Some are opting for the F-5. For budding Tomcat drivers, it's hard to imagine a better program for a pilot/RIO team. Once the new carrier comes out, we will have a Navy map featuring the A-4, F-18 and F-14. Be sure to pick up the C-101 and the NTTR map when they are on sale. The C-101 is an awesome module at any price; on sale, it's a steal.

^I can't say enough about the TWCS throttle, I went for the warthog stick but have been very reluctant to trade in the throttle. You have to take it apart and lube up the rails, but once you get it adjusted correctly it is really light and accurate. The toggle switch under your middle finger comes in REALLY handy and the TDC works like a charm. And yeah, the slap paddle should work extremely well for rudder control. It ain't pretty, but pretty is as pretty does.

TrackIR. You could try a 2080ti, that should allow you (or require you) to push your PD to the levels you like. But even then, one suspects you're pushing settings (vis range, shadows) that are just flogging your CPU too hard. Remember, in VR you have to render each frame twice, DCS has a hard enough time rendering it once. Look, us VR types cheerfully live with compromises because we really dig VR. I will freely admit my life would be much, much simpler if I could live without it.

You guys wouldn't happen to have a doghouse plot (for turning performance) you could share?

Cool, guy I used to work with flew P3's out of jax Really hope you see fit to drop by the discord. Your experience would be really helpful as an instructor in phase 1 where the cadets are learning how to fly the pattern, do basic visual navigation and figure out what their instruments are telling them. I'm out there teaching them how to land, basically. At the same time I'm taking ATC classes and hope to start participating in BFM classes soon. Really cool environment where people are teaching each other, sharing knowledge. Everybody gets richer as a result. Folks if you're even remotely thinking about the academy, please consider picking up NTTR and the C101 while the thanksgiving sale is still on. The C101 in particular is such an excellent module, the professionalism and attention to detail that goes into its development is outstanding. And it is a superlative trainer, well worth having.

Oh yes we have helicopter training

^ Yeah. There are certain things that make way more sense to do hands on, than by having someone in the back seat try to explain it (especially considering synch issues, the C101 has most of those things nailed down but still, sometimes it's like being in a different universe back there) We try to keep certain kinds of drag to a minimum, so we start level 0 cadets with a hot jet and unlimited fuel. We go over use of checklists or more commonly cockpit scans and mnemonics rather than startup procedure. We also kind of require practice. My typical first lesson is really basic, how to fly straight and level, how to turn, how to fly slowly. Second lesson goes straight to stall training, arcs, pattern entry and exit. In between the two, cadets are expected to get out there and pound the pattern. By the time the second lesson rolls around, they are expected to be able to fly a tight pattern with a stabilized approach and all the right radio calls. By the time cadets graduate to the NTTR map, instructors are typically helping with formation flying and acting as air traffic controllers; we are a lot more likely to be watching you on radar than riding in the back seat. In other news, we are rolling out the Phase 2 curriculum, the BFM outline was posted in Discord yesterday. This integrates tactical formation flying, energy-maneuverability theory, basic flight maneuvers, and setups for practice (eg setting up butterfly, offensive and defensive perches). To be clear, we don't mean "dogfighting." Once again, we are learning fundamentals first

Question I got today You make it sound very intimidating. I guess I'm still not clear on a few things though. Is the academy not really intended for novices? Is there a course syllabus? Is the time commitment so demanding that you can't have a day job? Oh I've had people who are just starting with DCS. Things bog down if the cadet hasn't figured out how to bind controls, and has never taken the bird out for a spin, both of which suggest a lack of initiative. Which is the only deal killer. Our ultimate goal is to be able to fly as an effective combat unit. For example, to be able to prosecute an attack using all the tools available including human AWACS, on board sensors, and your wingman or the other folks in your division. There's a lot that goes into that. The curriculum I posted is phase 1, which is pretty much about procedures, if you think about it. Procedures for getting on the ground, navigation procedures in VFR and IFR conditions. How to handle radio comms. How to fly the pattern with precision, how to fly formation. Other stuff flows from that. Skills you learn pounding the pattern come in handy with carrier quals. Formation flying skills come in handy with aerial refueling. But, just to be clear about it, we are showing you the path, we aren't carrying you down it. To be clear, it's just a game. And we (meaning, both the instructors and the cadets) are really into DCS, in ways our families and loved ones find to be quite insane (what the **** are you doing???... we get that a lot) But. What if I were to say, forget about it, you'll never make it? a) Screw that, I just wanna blow stuff up b) Screw *you*, I know I can do it. If the answer is b), you're exactly who we are looking for. Couple of slots just opened up.

The other question we have is, is the static port unheated? We are getting a lot of static port failures in icing conditions

This level of realism is part of what makes the C-101 so very appealing That agrees with our observations. Getting off the ground in those conditions is very tricky, with prolonged idling it does not appear the anti-icing can keep up, easier if you can keep the engine warm. Does the fuel enrichment button do anything here? I mean, I know it's not a Harley, just asking :)

If that worked we wouldn't be having this conversation. Suspicion it's supposed to be that way, in the sense it's supposed to catch on fire under some circumstances. With the question then being, is that a realistic reflection of the jets capabilities, ie, inoperable at 10 degrees C in the rain. Which I doubt.

Engine tends to shut off when taking off at low temps in the rain. Suggestions?

Yeah I hear that's a great module, eventually we hope to have an RedFor track going YAK-52 - L-39 - MIG-15 - MIG-15/19/21 or F5 based on authentic Soviet tactics circa ~1975. As it stands right now, we are really focused on US procedures from VFR on up and don't think we can easily integrate the L-39 It's possible to do the whole thing with MB-339 -> A-4E. Both are great mods. Doing IFR in the A-4 should be interesting on several levels but it's doable

We have temporarily closed enrollment due to the number of cadets signing up, but they are moving through training quickly and some new slots should open up soon. If you're thinking about the Academy, Thanksgiving sale is on. NTTR map is required, and the C-101 is *highly* recommended. For people on the Air Force track, the F-5E is also well worth a look. Note the progression of training: Level 0: caucasus map, mostly theory, pattern work, stall training. Either C-101 or MB-339 is fine. Level 1 and 2: mostly on NTTR. Formation flying. VFR navigation and IFR training (eg tacan approaches). C-101 is a nice stable platform for all of those, and is the only module that really has all the equipment you need to get the most out it. It's do-able in the F5 but not many people use that (no one so far). Also do-able in the A4 but the nav equipment (especially altimeter) is pretty non-optimal for this phase of training. Level 3. For air force track, a lot of it will be BFM; the F5 will be *considerably* more fun -- and probably more instructive -- than the C-101 here. For navy track, most of it will be carrier ops and quals. A-4E is perfect for this. Net of everything, there are ways of doing it without the C-101 but it's hard to get the most out of the program without it. If you're on the Air Force track, really focused on AA, and really on a budget, talk to us.

Tempting but not many benchmarks in DCS/VR

Easiest, essentially plug-n-play solution is the Rift S, which is good enough. Really doesn't need a ton of GPU power to run. 1080/Vega56 is about the just-barely-enough minimum if you're really on a budget, personally I think 2070 super is the sweet spot if you have $ to spend. You're gonna want to upgrade your CPU (yes, VR flogs your CPU) but that 2600X will get you started. SSD will improve your quality of life considerably.